Don Kosier reaches 50 years of service with The Wooster Brush Company
Born in Wadsworth, Ohio, Don Kosier and his family moved to Wooster when he was young. After graduating from Wooster High School, he chose to serve in the Navy for 3½ years before coming back home and joining Wooster Brush in 1966.
In the military, Don was part of “Kiddie Cruise,” a program for high school graduates under age 18 who could serve with their parents’ permission until age 21. Trained as an electrician, Don uses many of the skills he learned during his service time today. “I started out in Maintenance, and then an opening came up and I was assigned to second shift setup,” Don said. Today he is responsible for machine operation in Brush Setup on first shift, where he troubleshoots equipment and does machinery adjustments required for different brush sizes or styles.
“We’ve completely changed this department,” Don said of the modern renovations made in the Wooster Brush factory. “These are all new machines compared to what I ran [when I started]. We used to have machines that were all mechanical, and these are computer-generated.” Don’s department was overseen by Bill Becker and Don Hershberger, who shared supervising duties, when he first began working in Brush Setup.
His current manager, Lynn Croskey, respects Don’s expertise on the job. “When it comes to brushes, the man’s seen everything at least once,” Lynn said. “He knows how to make a brush.”
Don Kosier has been married for 17 years, and his wife Sandra is also a Wooster Brush employee. She has 27 years of service with the company. Though he says he doesn’t do many activities for leisure, Don enjoys spending time with family. “At this age, you don’t need any hobbies! Watch the kids, that’s about all you need. My daughter’s still in junior high. She’s a cheerleader now, and she does ice skating, so I follow her around.”
Retirement isn’t on the books yet for Don because work is fulfilling. “I think that’s what keeps me here,” Don said, in regards to five decades of service at Wooster Brush. “As long as I can keep working, I’ll keep coming.”
Don Kosier is the 16th person in the company’s 165-year history to have reached this milestone. Wooster Brush is known around the area to have an exceptionally high retention rate. The current average length of service for all 550 employees is 16 years.
About The Wooster Brush Company
Established in 1851, The Wooster Brush Company is the oldest independent manufacturer of paint applicators in the USA. Based in Wooster, Ohio, the privately held company with 550 employees produces more than 2,000 products for both professional and DIY painters. Two industry standards–angle sash paintbrushes and synthetic fabric roller covers–exist today because of The Wooster Brush Company. Wooster tools are available at traditional paint and decorating centers, hardware stores, paint sundry distributors or retailers, and home centers. Learn more and view the full Wooster catalog at woosterbrush.com.
